-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- While all eyes seem to be on `` Slumdog Millionaire '' for the Oscars , one very courageous little girl will be focused on another India-based film at the ceremony .

Pinki , like millions in developing countries , had to live with her deformity and suffer the social consequences .

It 's called `` Smile Pinki , '' and it 's up for an Oscar , too -- nominated for best short documentary , which it won on Sunday .

The little girl watching it from inside the Oscar ceremony has traveled all the way to Los Angeles , California , from her small Indian village with her dad -- and it has been an incredible journey for Pinki Sonkar .

`` Smile Pinki '' tells the story of her transformation from a sad outcast to a vibrant 8-year-old with plenty of spunk .

Pinki was born with a cleft lip , and her impoverished family did not have the money for corrective surgery .

Like millions of other children born with the lip deformity in developing countries , Pinki simply had to live with it and suffer the social consequences .

Her father Rajendra Sonkar says : `` She used to go to school and the kids would not befriend her . She would say , ' I do n't want to go to school . ' '' Watch how Pinki was transformed by the operation ''

`` Pinki was a depressed , sad , lonely , shy , young little girl , growing up on the periphery of the society in a little village , '' said Satish Kalra , director of Smile Train 's South Asian region , after meeting with Pinki .

The little girl 's own family was ashamed of her , Kalra says .

But all of that has changed . Pinki is now a real pistol , full of energy and confidence , and she has a fantastic smile too -- thanks to the Smile Train charity .

Smile Train teaches doctors in their own countries to operate on cleft lips , a deformity afflicting up to four million children across the world . iReport : Share your Oscar predictions

Pinki just happened to be one of the chosen candidates for surgery and was also chosen to be the subject of the documentary .

The film chronicles her transformation , following her from her village to the hospital and home again .

`` She has absolutely and totally changed , '' said Pinki 's surgeon , Dr. Subodh Kumar .

The film 's director is Megan Mylan . She has won several awards but not an Oscar -- until now .

For Pinki and her dad , being able to see the film 's director win an Oscar would be a thrill .

But they know they already have the greatest prize : Pinki 's new smile .

`` I am so happy that my daughter 's lips have been repaired , '' her dad Rajendra said with a smile , expressing hope that the movie will inspire people to help children whose families ca n't afford the surgery .

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NEW : `` Smile Pinki '' wins best short documentary Oscar

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Pinki Sonkar was born with cleft lip ; her family in India could n't afford surgery

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Smile Train charity provided operation ; 4 million children worldwide have cleft lips

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Pinki , once an outcast because of the deformity , will attend the Oscar ceremony